October 22,  2022

Reflection

WALKING  WITH  A  SLOW  PERSON

Walking with a slow person can be a moment of impatience - especially for a person who walks fast.

What's it like to be a slow person?

What's it like to be a slow person and you're walking with a fast person - worse, with a faster person who is an impatient person?

Last Saturday - September 29, 2007 - Dan Ahr came down the aisle with his mother.  Dan is usually in his wheelchair.

At this time, he wanted to walk with his mother - but it was a big family occasion - his sister's funeral.

It took him "forever" - but he did it - using a walker with wheels - a rollator.

At the end of the wedding - he left - walking down the aisle - with a gal in tow.

What's it like to be Dan - Naval Academy graduate - partially paralyzed - as he is - from a car accident?

I am not impatient - but I did think - the wheelchair would have been quicker. Yet - obviously - I didn't know the implications, the meanings, and the stories.

What's it like to walk with a slow person?

Like walking a person who had a recent operation ,,,,

Like walking with a mom in a nursing home ....

Like with a child in her first week of walking ....

How fast did Jesus walk the road to Jericho?

How fast did Jesus walk the way of the cross to Calvary?

12 Step Programs use the image or the analogy of climbing up some stairs - in order to get to the top.

Some people learn faster than others.

Some people recover slowly.

Lord, give me patience when I'm impatient.

Lord, give me impatience when I'm walking with those who are slow walkers - or slow learners - like I can be - at times.

October 22, 2022

Thought For Today 

"I tell you there is such a thing as creative hate."

Willa Cather [1873-1947]

The Song of the Land

 

WHETHER REPORT

 

Whether – W H E T H E R – a play on words, a play on contrasts, a play on how we see each other – how we treat each other – that it does not depend  on the weather – but how we can  always  be nice to each other each and every day.

 

In today’s gospel -  Jesus talks about the weather: W E A T H E R - whether it’s cloudy, rainy or hot. He says we know how to interpret the weather – but at times we do not know how to interpret each other – for good, for better, for best.

 

We waste our time judging others – making others our opponents – bringing them to the court of public opinion – or public criticism - wanting them to pay us a last penny because of their differences to and with and at us.

 

We’re selfish. We won’t give daily bread to the other whether the other is hungry or poor or like Lazarus starving at our door.

 

We don’t forgive.  We don’t forgive our sisters and brothers – even once –  never 7 – never 77 times -  whether they leave home and mess up their lives as prodigals or we won’t come into the house when the other comes come back home after living a disaster.

 

We don’t show respect or love or recognition to  the others in our lives, in our neighborhoods - whether their skin color is red – black – yellow – brown or white.

 

We don’t stop to help the person broken down by life or robed on the road - while strangers and Samaritans stop to help them - the hurting - whether they know them or not. Amen.

 October 21, 2022

Reflection

CAN  ONE  CHANGE?

Once more the question erupts, "Can he change?' "Can she change?" Better: "Can I change?"

Is what you see,  what you're going to get for the rest of a person's life?

And it seems that every time I ask that question about someone else, the question that keeps coming back to me is, "Can I change?"

Is the background, "If I can change, then maybe another can change."

I have to go back and find some research I once had about basic self - and accidental self.

It has something to so with the nuclear self and the accidental self.

We recognize the same person all through one's life - but then again there are things in people that change.

People change size, shape, and hair color.

Wrinkles appear on the basic package in time.

People change in their ability to speak in public.  Get a video of a priest speaking at his first Mass and compare it to him preaching at his 25th Anniversary.

Can I change?

I guess the first step would be to make a long list - and then a short list - of things I would like to look at when it comes to changing.

• Eating better- more vegetables - less bread
• Preparing homilies on Monday for the following Sunday.
• Exercise - more exercise on a regular basis.
• Listening: a lot more - especially when another's story triggers one of mine - and I think my story is better.
• Complimenting others.

I suppose that would be a good way to start. Make the list.

The list is primary.

Now, how does one get that list and how do I populate it?

Then comes the challenge: Change! Grow! Repent! Learn! Become a better person!

 

 October 21,  2022

Thought for Today

CAN  ANOTHER CHANGE?

"You have to endure what  you can't change."

Marie de France (1160-1215)

 October 20, 2022

Reflection

ESSENTIAL  ELEMENTS

I like the phrase, "essential elements".

We all know water is H20 - that is,  water has two essential elements: hydrogen and oxygen.

Well, someone in religious circles began using the term, "essential elements", when talking about religious life.

Religious life in the Catholic Church is the title for the life lived by nuns, sisters, and males in religious orders like the Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans, Passionists,  Redemptorists, etc. etc. etc.

What are the essential elements of religious life - without which one would not be called a "religious".

Is this the first place this term was used other than in science? Was it used in business or academic circles as well?

I don't know.

What are the essential elements for being a Redemptorist?

What are the essential elements of the Mass?

What are the essential elements for being a Christian, a Catholic, a Buddhist, a Moslem, a Mormon, a Jew?

What are the essential elements for Baptism?

What are the essential elements for being a U.S. Citizen?

Do you have your papers?  What documents do you have?

People have to show their passport or driver's license or social security number at times.

In some groups you have to pay your dues - if you want membership.

You have to show up.

What are the essentials for getting a degree, a doctor's diploma, an electrician's license?

This question has many forms - and some have been around for a long time.

What's what around here?

Who's who around here?

Who has the key to the door?

 October 20, 2022

Thought for Today

"If you want to get across an idea, wrap it in a person."

Ralph Bunche

 October 19,  2022

Reflection

REDEMPTION

I need to sit down and write out my description of "Redemption."

Being a Redemptorist, this would be a good move.

The first step would be to present a gut description - then do some study - and come up with a document.

The Exodus in the second book of the Bible stand first - God saving his people from slavery.

The return from the Exile of the Jews in Babylon would stand second.

To know those 2 major Biblical events: Exodus and Exile would be central.

Next I would jump to the New Testament. I would begin with the Demon Stories - early on in the gospels.   Jesus pulled demons out of people's beings and they would run away like rabbits running of cliffs -  oops they are pigs.

Next I would explore phrases like "being saved " - "being redeemed" - "being freed" - "being released" - "being healed".

Next could come A.A. (Alcoholics Antonymous Stories) - therapy stories - recovery stories.

Redemption has to do with seeing - seeing in a new way - a  better way - with a new vision - new paradigm - a new scenario....

I  would think there is group and individual redemption.

I would think you need to broadcast loud and clear the idea of choice when it comes to redemption - individual and group choice.

That's a bunch of elements in Redemption.

Have I some of the key elements of Redemption in these scriblings?

Can I nail down one word - like path, freedom, release, change (for the better), grace, gift...?

Can I nail down one image - like a bird in a cage being released - a person getting out of prison -climbing out of a crashed car or train or plane - like Harrison Ford in The Fugitive.

 October 19,  2022

Thought for Today

"To jealousy, nothing is more frightful than laughter."

Francois Sagan

 October 18, 2022

Reflection

QUESTIONS

I HAVE FOR GOD

Mitch Albon has his book about the 5 people we meet after we die.

I really like that book and that format.

Through the years I've found myself saying, "That's one of the questions I have for God after I die."

For example: Mass stipends.

We Catholics - in some churches and parishes take 5 or 10 dollars - and ask that a Mass be said for someone who is sick or having an operation - or for someone who has died.

At some Masses we hear someone say, "The Mass today is for Teresa Smith - deceased."

It can be a wonderful moment for the family of Teresa Smith They got up early and showed up on the anniversary of Teresa's death at a 6:30 A.M. Mass.  Then they go to a diner or a small restaurant and have coffee and donuts together.

I'm aware that collecting money like this was a complaint at the time of the Protestant Reformation - and probably still today.

It puts some money into the books - that takes care of church buildings or the salary of a priest - or for foreign missions.

Well, I want to ask God about stuff like that. Does God hear prayer requests - and do something about them?

What else?

Here is another question. I had a funeral for a man who died at the age of 57. He had Down Syndrome. So I want to ask God, "Did he wake up in heaven - with questions? How does that work? Do we hear from him what he was seeing and experiencing for 57 years.

How does heaven work?

Will we know everything about everyone.  The good stuff -  wonderful. Will we be looking at each other's sins?

What are my other questions?  Like the one's I forgot.

What about the persons I lost track of? What about the people I had a moment with?

And God, tell me your thoughts about why you created the world 5 to 15 billion years ago - and we humans have only begun to think a million or so years ago?

 October 18, 2022

To Think About

"It was a sly trick of God to give us work to do. It kept us from asking God questions God couldn't answer."

Martha  Ostenso [1900-1963]

Norwegian American Novelist

 October 17, 2022

Reflection

YOU'LL  KNOW

You'll know when you start to wonder about a hereafter.

You'll know when you get sick or you need some tests - or you need surgery or chemo or radiation.

You'll know when a close friend or family member dies and they are younger than you.

You'll know when you attend enough funerals.

You'll know when you start to wonder - doubt - question - whether there is anything after this.

You'll know when you wonder about your religion - present or former - comparing it to other religions - when you begin thinking about death and resurrection - salvation or damnation - existence or annihilation forever.

You'll know when you wonder about God - what God is like - and you'll realize you have no say in what God is like or whether there is a hereafter - all is totally out of your hands - as it has always been.

You'll know when you start to pray - to be able to let go - and to put it all into God's hands.

You'll know when you start to write stuff like this.

You'll know when you'll wake up on the other side of life -and there you are - and then you know whether there is judgment - whether there is heaven - whether there is hell - whether hell is second guessing and regrets - and heaven is - you tried - you gave - you opened up you heart - you became one in Christ and both of you see each other and you laugh - he putting his hands into your cuts and your insides and you putting your's into his and everyone elses and you say, "My Lord and my God."

You'll know ....

 October 17,  2022

Thought To Consider

"To believe, and to be loved                                  while unworthy, is the great secret."

W. P. Newell

October 16, 2022

Reflection

 STOPPING FOR ICE CREAM

Last night I drove back home to Annapolis from New Jersey.

I went up for a funeral of a little baby girl: Elizabeth Mary.

Then I decided to see if Al and Sylvia were home.  I had seen them near Elizabeth Mary's family at the funeral.

Heading down 301 I could see all the red lights ahead of me -  before I'd get to the Bay Bridge.

I come into a traffic jam,

I haven't been in one like this in years.

I smile - because most of the time I've been on the other side - going in a different direction.

We all stop.

It's 10:15 P.M.

I turn my motor off - with tractor trailer and trucks and cars - all doing the same thing.

Standing there on the highway - we all started talking to each other.  Truckers said it was a major, major accident way up ahead of us.

It's 11: 40 and trucks and cars start their engines and start to crawl forward.

As I got closer to the bridge there were still some police cars with lights flashing.

I had seen a few ambulances and tow trucks pulling cars on the opposite side.

Finally, we saw about 10 wrecked cars - and many police cars on the shoulders - with their lights on.

I'm sure we all prayed for those who were hurt here tonight.

I got home by 1 A.M. and was in bed by 2 A.M.

For some reason - looking back - I still see all kinds of us - having stopped for ice cream - at a D.Q. - licking ice cream - holding shakes - talking - talking - talking - thanking our lucky stars - for getting stuck at that spot - so close to ice cream - so close to a D.Q. that stayed open that night for the rest of us.

I had stopped for a D. Q. and a bathroom break - about a half hour before we hit that traffic jam.

Would I have been in that accident - if I hadn't stopped for that first ice cream - and bathroom break?

I did say a prayer when I started back home that night. Was it that - that saved me - or the ice cream?

I'll go with the ice cream.

Always get ice cream - when you're heading home - in the night.

October 16, 2022

Thought to Ponder 

"You are not tempted because you are evil;              you are tempted because you are human."